There is nothing quite like walking into a old-time butchers shop and picking out the best and freshest meats for your holiday meal while sharing a conversation with your butcher as he wraps it up for you to take home to enjoy with your family. Our area is home to many local butcher shops that are offering great deals on a wide selection of meats this season.

AA Meats

Rib roast: whole (16 lbs up): $7.49 lb, roast, $7.99 lb and seasoned is $8.09 lb.
Smoked turkeys: toms, $39.95; hens, $29.95

Smoked turkeys are very popular so anyone who would like to order this item must first go in and put themselves the AA Meats holiday list. Also included on the holiday list are: hills bone-in ham, $3.19 lb; pork crown roast, $3.19 lb; boneless lamb leg, $4.98 lb; and pork leg, $1.89 lb.

Stewarts Meats

Smoked turkeys: 15 or 20 lbs, $2.59 lb; pit ham, $2.99 lb; honey or black forest boneless ham, $4.39 lb; home-cured bone in-ham, $2.39 lb (average weight is 18 lbs). For a complete list of their products, you can visit their Web site.

Michaels Meats

Michaels Meats in Aberdeen and Olympia lists 17 different meat packages as well as weekly deals. They also offer beef and pork by the half that is trimmed table ready, wrapped and frozen to meet your needs. To view their full list, visit their Web site.

On-line shopping is another great option for those of us who are too busy to be able to get to the grocery store or butcher shop.

www.gourmetgroceryonline.com offers a wide variety of different fresh meats, along with side dishes and desserts.

www.blackwing.com is where to shop if organic is what you are looking for. This site offers numerous choices as well as recipes for both everyday and holiday meals.

[AA Meats, 5116 111th St. SW, Lakewood, 253.588.7979]
[Stewarts Meats, 17821 State Route 507 SE, Yelm, 360.458.2091]
[Michaels Meats, 7912 Martin Way E., Olympia, 360.489.0128]